Improvement in limekilns



T. ENNETT.

Lime Kiln.

Wz'inesses. wezzzan curving lines, until the bottom of the kiln is 4be desired. If brick be employed, they should,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.'

THOMAS ENNETT, or no'oKFoaD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN'LIMEKILNS.

Specification forming partof Letters PatcntNo. 104,291, dated June 14, 1870. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ENNE'r'r, of

tockford, in the county ot Vinneba-go and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in L imekiln; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class oi' limekilns which are called perpetual burners 5 and consists in certain details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawing, Figure l represents a front elevation of the kiln, with a portion of one of its sides cuty awa-y to show the internal arrangement of the flues, and the grate and feeding-door; and Fig. 2 represents a top view, with a portion of the front side cut away to show the grates and draft-hues.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and method of operation.

A represents the kiln, which may be built of stone, brick, or other suitable material. It is provided with the four walls a a a a., which inclose the central space or cupola, a', in the usual manner. These walls are constructed upon vertical straight lines, from a point in line with the lower edge ot' the grate-bars to the top of the kiln. From this point downward they are gradually drawn inward, in

reached. This lower part ot' the cupola I call the draw-pit. By means of this construction it will be observed that the inclosed area at the bottom is much less than that at the top. These walls are, of course, provided with suitable iirechambers and ilues, as will now be described. B B represent the fire-chambers, which are located upon each side of the cupola, as shown. They are provided with ash-pits b b, into which open iiuesbl b1 b2, as shown in the drawings. They have also grates of suitable construction, which may be made of metal or brick, as may of course, be built upon the arches that support the grates, with openings corresponding to the opening-sin the arches. The grates in either case, however, should be inclined, and should be made solid at the lower edges, for

the purpose of holding` the coals. By means of this construction, also, the expanding lime is prevented from pressing into the tire-chamber and ash-pits. The inner portion of the wall opposite the fire-chamber is, of course, made open, for the purpose of permitting the flame and smoke to pass up through'the cupola. A single pillar, c, Fig. 2, is, however, employed to prevent the logs otl wood .fed to the iire from rolling into the cupola. By means of the inclined grates the wood rolls ot' its own accord down to the pillar, and is thus fed to the fire.

An additional chamber, corresponding to the ash-pits b, is located in rear ot' the lower part of the draw-pit of the cupola, with which communicates the flue b2. This chamber opens into the ash-pits, and can be used, if desired, for the purpose of .increasing the draft. The lines and nre-chambers are, of course, provided with suitable doors.

d represents the door through which the finished lime is withdrawn, and d a door through which the arch, which forms in the cupola, may be broken, either by an iron bar or by the introduction of a stream of wa-ter, in the usual manner.

The operation is as follows: The cupola is lled, from the top, with limestone, in the usual manner. Fires are Alighted in the irechambers, and replenished, as may be necessary, by means of the feeding-doors. As the heat passes up through the stones, which lie loosely in the cupola, they become burned and fall into the draw-pit of the cupola in the form of lime. As the stones burn they naturally expand, and hence the upper part ot' the walls require great strength, and the grates require to be inclined to prevent the lime from passing into the fire-chamber.

In case an arch is formed by the expansion ofthe material in the process of combustion, an iron bar may be used at the door d', or a stream of water may be introduced by means ot' a hose, in which case the steam consequently formed pulverizes the mass, and permits it to fall to the bottom of the kiln.

The ashes formed by the combustion of the wood fall through the grates into the ash-pits,

from which they may be drawn out by means of the communicating ues. The ash-pits, in connection with the chamber in rear of the co1- lecting-chamber, serve also another purposewhat I claim-as new, and desire to secure by- Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In the kiln herein described, the spaces b, extending.;` from the grates to the bottom of the kiln, for the double purpose of withdrawing the ashes, Sac., and for cooling the burnt linie. 2. The arrangement of the cupola A, with curved sides from the grate to the bottom, inclined grates, pillar c, air-space b, and doors d b b1 b2, all constructed substantially as hercin described, and for the purpose specified.

This specification signed and witnessed this 4th day of April, 1870.

THOMAS ENNETT. Witnesses: G. W. FORD,

WILLIAM SHEPHERD. 

